How can I achieve an "blinded by light" effect?
This will most likely be hard to achieve through the 3D scene alone, and will probably require some post processing and compositing work.

It could probably be achieved with a mix of lens flares and god rays and volumetric lighting.

Volumetric lighting can be made with a volume material in cycles, see this: Project light through shape, text or symbol to appear in cloud or mist

It can also be faked or enhanced in the compositor with the Filter > Sun Beams node.

In compositing you can also add a lens flare effect with Filter > Sun Beams or Filter > Glare


Blender God Rays Tutorials
Blender Lens Flare Tutorials